African dwarf crocodile (Osteolaemus tetraspis)

Short answers

African dwarf crocodile: How big does the enclosure need to be?

About 400 × 250 × 150 cm for a pair — 3 m² of land and 7 m² of water, split into one third land, one third shallows (10–20 cm) and one third deeper water from 50 cm. Add 1 m² of land and 1 m² of water per further animal.

African dwarf crocodile: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 25–30 °C, basking spot Locally up to 40 °C under the heat lamp above the land section, at night Not below 22 °C.

African dwarf crocodile: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Required (UV-A and UV-B); 10–12 hours of lighting in total. This species rarely basks and is mostly nocturnal, so subdued light and hiding places matter.

African dwarf crocodile: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: Several decades.

African dwarf crocodile: Is it suitable for beginners?

No – better suited to experienced keepers (difficulty: Expert).

Climate

Daytime temperature

25–30 °C

Night temperature

Not below 22 °C

Basking spot

Locally up to 40 °C under the heat lamp above the land section

UVB

Required (UV-A and UV-B); 10–12 hours of lighting in total. This species rarely basks and is mostly nocturnal, so subdued light and hiding places matter.

Enclosure

Minimum size

About 400 × 250 × 150 cm for a pair — 3 m² of land and 7 m² of water, split into one third land, one third shallows (10–20 cm) and one third deeper water from 50 cm. Add 1 m² of land and 1 m² of water per further animal.

Substrate

Soil, peat, bark mulch, sand or fine rounded gravel. Rounded pebbles must be within reach as gastroliths.

Feeding

Food

Fish, crustaceans, worms, reptiles, frogs and even fruit; in captivity meat, fish and the occasional rodent dusted with calcium and vitamins, plus insects

Feeding interval

Adults once a week; juveniles daily with 1–2 fasting days

Key facts

Adult size

usually ~150 cm, exceptionally up to ~230 cm

Life expectancy

Several decades

Origin

West and Central Africa — streams, small rivers and ponds in dense rainforest

Protection status

CITES Appendix I / EU Annex A — commercial use prohibited, sale only with an EU certificate; must be reported to the German nature conservation authority

Brumation

None. In the wild it sits out the dry season in burrows — the enclosure needs matching retreats

Cohabitation

Keep singly or in pairs once mature; juveniles can be kept in groups.

Notes

LEGAL: In Germany crocodilians count as dangerous animals. Keeping them is governed by each federal state — several ban it in private hands, the rest require a permit. Settle this with the responsible authority before acquiring an animal, not after. On top of that come species protection law (CITES / EU Regulation 338/97), a duty to notify the nature conservation authority and, for many species, mandatory microchipping. Proof of expertise is required. DANGER: Even the small species can inflict serious injuries. The enclosure must be escape-proof, digging out must be impossible, and there must be a way to separate animals safely. ROOM FOR A LIFETIME: Crocodilians live for decades. An animal that has outgrown its enclosure is next to impossible to rehome — the enclosure has to be big enough for the adult animal from the start. Reptoria does not broker crocodilians. This page is for information only.

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• Cuvier's dwarf caiman (Paleosuchus palpebrosus) – Expert
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• Schneider's smooth-fronted caiman (Paleosuchus trigonatus) – Expert
• American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) – Expert

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What you need to start

To keep African dwarf crocodile (Osteolaemus tetraspis) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (About 400 × 250 × 150 cm for a pair — 3 m² of land and 7 m² of water, split into one third land, one third shallows (10–20 cm) and one third deeper water from 50 cm. Add 1 m² of land and 1 m² of water per further animal.), substrate (Soil, peat, bark mulch, sand or fine rounded gravel. Rounded pebbles must be within reach as gastroliths.), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.